So I’m apparently part of my first regular-season hockey pool, despite being on a different continent from all the teams, players and other members of the pool.

My former coworkers at Metroland added me to their pool and picked a team for me since I was unavailable to chose my own. Somehow the Ottawa Senators were unfortunately excluded (and the Flames, my second-favourite team), but on the flip side, there are thankfully no Leafs. Hopefully my internet co-operates enough for me to catch a few games online; the NHL sked has already been dutifully bookmarked.

I managed to find a radio station broadcasting the Sens season opener online on Saturday; despite their loss, it was a patriotic moment for me to listen to the hockey game while sitting under a palm tree in Cali.